The 2025 Oscar nominations have been revealed and in a few weeks, one of 10 movies will join the illustrious ranks of Best Picture winners and become the 97 film to hold that honor. It’s the prize that all movies want to win, but only a select group has been awarded that little golden statue that cements a place in cinema history.
I’ve watched every movie that has won Best Picture at the Academy Awards from 1927’s “Wings” to 2023’s “Oppenheimer”, and below I’m picking out the 13 victors you should watch first. But note, this is merely a roundup of the movies I believe you should watch first. It’s certainly not a list of the only Best Picture winners worth watching (I’d say the vast majority of winners are worthy of the prize) and I’ve also picked movies from across the years, with at least one pick from each decade (bar the ‘80s. Sorry the pool was weaker in that decade).
